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Light Rain School Budget, trustee voting on Tuesday
Two seats up in Hewlett-Woodmere, Lawrence has contested race
Voters in the Hewlett-Woodmere and Lawrence school districts could head to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots on the proposed budgets and Board of Education candidates.
Both districts increased spending but are within their respective tax cap rates, which are set by them (see budget boxes). The state doesn’t set the levy limit, it establishes the formula used to for establishing the limit.
In Hewlett-Woodmere incumbents Scott McInnes and Cheryl May, and Fred Usherson and Jacob Shafran are running for two seats in the at-large election. The two highest vote-getters win the three-year terms.
McInnes, 46, currently the board president is seeking his second term. He has a daughter attending Woodmere Middle School and is a Hewlett resident. He said that he is running again because he wants to help manage the district’s spending and continue providing the type of education that residents have become accustomed to its students.
May, 45, is the board’s vice president and all three of her children are attending the middle school this school year. Also running for a second term, the Hewlett Harbor resident views herself as an advocate for children and wants to help ensure that students continue receiving a high-quality education.
Fred Usherson, 52, lives in Hewlett and has a daughter in the middle school and a son at Hewlett Elementary School. Usherson said he is running because he wants to minimize tax increases and use his professional educational experience to upgrade learning in the district by helping to improve the teaching staff’s skills.
Jacob Shafran, 53, the Woodmere resident has no children attending district schools, but has two nieces and a nephew who have. Shafran attended public school said he is an advocate of a sound and vital school district. He also wants to keep an eye on taxes and thinks his experience running a business (he is optometrist) would be an asset.
A challenge in Lawrence
Two seats are up in the Lawrence School District and one includes a contested race. Incumbent Trustee Asher Mansdorf is being challenged by Asher Matathias. Sitting Board of Education member Murray Forman is running unopposed.
